Humans have always craved sweet things. Early on, it was all berries and honey, but with the introduction of refined sugar, the dessert was born. The name dessert comes from the French word "desservir" which means "to clear away" -- in this case, the dinner table. Depending on where you are in the world, you'll get a wide variety of the post-meal sweet treats. In China, it might contain red beans or dates. In Mexico, the custard like flan could be on the menu.

In the United States, the sweeter the dessert is, the better. We may not have invented all (or even most) of the desserts we're known for, but we've certainly put our own spin on a wide variety of foreign classics -- so much so that some of the most popular desserts have become synonymous with the United States. Just the words "apple pie" conjure up visions of white picket fences and baseball. So join us for a lip-smacking tour of the most popular desserts the United States has to offer.